ST:SoD224 | "A Cornered Targ Pt. I"

Stardate 98900.5

The Survivors become increasingly desperate as they continue to target Mischa personally, but there is dissent among their ranks...

---

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Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | CAMBRIDGESHIRE, ENGLAND

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | We see Mischa's family home on a quiet night, with the moon hanging peacefully above the mansion

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | A light can be seen through one of the windows. It blinks out, and the camera begins zooming towards that window

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | The wings of a barn owl comes into view from the corner, and we follow the owl as it soars across the Leveson-Scott property to come to a landing on the window

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | The owl stands there, staring inside for a moment before it begins to melt, turning into an orange-ish liquid as it seeps through into the house

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | The liquid sloshes onto the floor in a puddle which slowly begins to rise, forming a humanoid shape

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | The face settles last, forming the recognizable visage of Commodore Fox...

---

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | AZURE SECTOR, BETA QUADRANT

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | The Latenter and captured Krenim timeship travels at transwarp

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Mischa stands on the bridge of the timeship, with various TOS uniformed crew working around her

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Helmsman: "The Latenter is dropping...to warp. 'Dropping' to warp. I need to get used to saying that...Sorry, Commander, I assume we should follow suit."

Mischa@crystyl smiles, "It's fine. It's something we're all still getting used to, and yes stick with them"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | The helmsman nods and soon the transwarp tunnel effect on the viewscreen fades to regular starstreaks

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Commander Takeshewada steps up beside Mischa, "A much more familiar sight."

Mischa@crystyl:"Don't worry, I'm sure there are plenty more new sights to stop any of it getting too mundane for you all"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada chuckles, "I don't doubt it. We're in a whole new century now. And your ship already looks very different from anything we've seen. I know it's an Intelligence ship and not -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - representative of your whole fleet, but still."

Mischa@crystyl:"Have you spent any time yet researching modern Starfleet?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada nods, "I've looked at some of the files the Latenter sent over in my spare time. It looks like you've maintained some classic designs like the Constitution-class, even though the -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - current versions look very different. Even the refits of the originals look so different. Same shape, but almost like a whole other ship design."

Mischa@crystyl smiles, "Just wait until we get settled properly, then you see them all for yourself in the holodeck"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "The holodeck? I haven't read about that yet, but I'm guessing it has to do with the extensive holographics system that lets Acey project herself on this ship?"

Mischa@crystyl:"It's the same technology in essence, yes. It's actually very similar to transporter technology at its core too. You see, most ships don't have full holographic support throughout. A standard -

Mischa@crystyl:- operating starship would likely have emitters in the sickbay for an EMH, possibly in critical areas for emergency support like the bridge and engineering. And most - certainly cruisers - will have-

Mischa@crystyl:- at least one recreational holodeck. It is a large room which is entirely covered with holoemitters and can recreate complete environments, even interactive characters"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "That sounds like technology with quite the potential. We can simulate environments to an extent, but I assume your holodecks are much more realistic?"

Mischa@crystyl smiles, "I don't think you'll be disappointed"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada smiles back, "I look forward to seeing it for myself."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris <C - Acey> "Commander. We have incoming communications from the Latenter."

Mischa@crystyl:"Thank you Acey, please patch it to main screen"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Victoria appears on the viewscreen, "We've just entered comms range and called ahead to give them a heads up about the ship you're arriving in. Naturally, they have some questions."

Mischa@crystyl:"Naturally... have they given a summons for a debrief?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Victoria nods, "The Director wants to debrief you personally once we're in orbit."

Mischa@crystyl:"Alright thank you. I will stop by to get a fresh uniform then head straight there"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Victoria: "The Admirals want to send a team over to inspect the timeship as well. Should we keep the Constellation crew on board in the meantime?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Just as well. It would just seem odd if we presented a crewless ship at this point. Just make sure to put our own escort with the inspection team. We don't them putting anyone on the spot"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "I think Hassan and Ori should be able to handle it. They know both sides by now, your Starfleet and our crew here, not to mention the ship."

Mischa@crystyl nods, "Yes, they will take charge of our escorts. But they still may need some exta bodies depending how many come to inspect, and who. Ori... has a habit of putting her foot in her mouth"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Victoria chuckles, "I can send some extra people over, if you need."

Mischa@crystyl:"It certainly wouldn't hurt. I'll let Hassan decide on the specifics"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Victoria: "I'll speak with Hassan about it, then. Good luck with the debrief, Mischa."

---

NPC@annpc#557 | The Director of SFI waits for Mischa inside a Reman office on Crateris. The lights are dialed further up than it would normally be, though the interior is still rather dark compared to -

NPC@annpc#557 - Starfleet ones, a veritable intel dungeon

Mischa@crystyl chimes the door on arrival

NPC@annpc#557 | Director: "Come in."

Mischa@crystyl stands attentively for Mischa

Mischa@crystyl approaches, snapping to attention before his desk, "Director"

NPC@annpc#557 | Director: "Commander. You've been a busy woman of late. Uncovering this conspiracy, saving admirals and presidents, and now capturing an enemy ship intact and in good condition."

Mischa@crystyl:"A little more high profile than usual, but nothing outside the line of duty" she smiles and relaxes, "It has been too long. In light of present circumstances it is especially good to see you again"

NPC@annpc#557 | The Director returns the smile, "Likewise. Have a seat, please." He stands, moving over to a replicator. "Your usual?"

Mischa@crystyl:"You took the trouble of programming these replicators with it? I am honoured, and it would be rude not to indulge. Thank you"

NPC@annpc#557 | The Director replicates the tea, handing Mischa a cup, "So, however did you manage to capture a ship like that? The Latenter's a good ship, but she's no match for that Krenim vessel."

Mischa@crystyl:"Well it's not exactly one of their warships" she sips, "Mmm, excellent. But the key factor had to be deploying Acey to undermine their systems and turn them against the crew. She did the bulk of -

Mischa@crystyl:- the heavy lifting and so I just had a handful of stubborn remnants to clear out which was a simple enough job for an elite team"

NPC@annpc#557 | The Director sits back down, taking a sip of his own tea, "Acey, of course. She was created under a very unique set of circumstances, circumstances unintentionally brought on by the chain of -

NPC@annpc#557 - events caused by our enemy themselves. Even through all our collected intel over the years, we've never once heard of a sentient virus. Plenty of other forms of AI, but none quite like Acey. -

NPC@annpc#557 - It's very possible the infiltrators also haven't encountered anything like her either, which is why they were unable to effectively counter her."

Mischa@crystyl:"That seems likely" she nods, "But of course, the more we push them back, the more they become aware of us. As evidenced by this most recent attack on my personal history"

NPC@annpc#557 | The Director nods, "We'll have to be very careful with these enemies. Speaking of your most recent mission, we've received the preliminary report from your XO. Possession of an intact enemy -

NPC@annpc#557 - ship is a significant step for us, even if it isn't a warship. This 23rd century crew though...that could cause a few headaches."

Mischa@crystyl:"I am aware and can only apologize for the inconvenience and offer my assurances that it was our only viable option"

NPC@annpc#557 | Director: "At least it does not alter the timeline in any way. We will just have to figure out how and where to re-integrate these four hundred odd displaced officers."

Mischa@crystyl nods, "I would never have proceeded with such a plan if it had meant altering history at all. We're working too hard to keep it intact as it is" she chuckles

NPC@annpc#557 | The Director nods, "Indeed we are, and I understand the reasoning behind recruiting the crew. A few hundred temporal refugees and some trouble from Temporal Investigations is a small price to -

NPC@annpc#557 - pay for getting that Krenim ship back in one piece."

Mischa@crystyl:"And without wanting to sound selfish, getting ourselves back and able to restore the timeline was also something of a payoff" she smiles

NPC@annpc#557 | Director: "Yes, that it certainly was. And you've arrived in time for the meeting as well. We could use your input, you've been at the forefront of all this."

Mischa@crystyl:"You know me Sir, I loathe unfinished business. After all my crew and I have gone through to help secure this conference, I would be damned if I was going to let a little temporal displacement stop -

Mischa@crystyl:- me from seeing it through. I appreciate the consideration and will of course provide any and all insight I can"

NPC@annpc#557 | The Director smiles, "Before it's time for the meeting though, I have something for you."

Mischa@crystyl sips her tea, "A new objective?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Director: "Not yet. That'll most likely be decided at the meeting itself, or we'll get an idea of the direction we're going in, and then assign you a new objective after. First..."

NPC@annpc#557 | He opens a compartment on the table, taking out a small box

Mischa@crystyl watches curiously, and innocently

NPC@annpc#557 | The Director hands the box over to Mischa

Mischa@crystyl pops it open

NPC@annpc#557 | Inside, Mischa finds a new pip, identical to the three she is already wearing on her uniform

NPC@annpc#557 | Director: "Something for you to feel a little less out of place sitting with us brass at the table."

Mischa@crystyl looks back to the Director, "I am not sure what to say but thank you" she smiles, taking it in her fingertips and clipping it to her collar

NPC@annpc#557 | The Director smiles back, "It's more than overdue by now. I had planned to give it to you when the Latenter stopped by the Federation core after the Justicar mission, but that spiralled into -

NPC@annpc#557 - all this. But with both your recent actions and your work on the rim, you've certainly earned it, Captain."

Mischa@crystyl:"It is always gratifying to reap the rewards of one's efforts" she smirks slightly, "And I suppose this does get me one step closer to being ready to take over from you one day"

NPC@annpc#557 | The Director chuckles, "Your old XO got Fox out of the way too, so you have her to thank as well. Still no news from the Loki yet after all that, unfortunately. They stirred up a bit of a mess -

NPC@annpc#557 - in the sphere trying to locate the missing ships. You haven't seen those reports from the Heart of Unity yet, have you?"

Mischa@crystyl shakes her head, "I almost dare not ask..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Director: "Don't worry, everyone back there's still fine. One of Torin's ships tried to recreate the phenomenon to contact the Valley Forge, except they ended up sending their probes through -

NPC@annpc#557 - to other quantum realities. Now they've got ships commanded by Captain Se'Lais from various universes coming through. And a short-lived Terran attempt at an invasion, but that was shut down quickly."

Mischa@crystyl pinches the bridge of her nose, "Trust DSEC. If they can't go out and find the inexplicable beyond the frontier, they bring it to their doorstep..."

NPC@annpc#557 | The Director chuckles, "You know what they're like with their science experiments."

Mischa@crystyl:"Do we have our own presence there now to monitor all of these new potential threats, or has that station remained blank since the Loki disappeared?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Director: "We don't have a ship there yet, but we do have SFI personnel monitoring the situation. I've been considering deploying another ship, but we're spread thin trying to counter this -

NPC@annpc#557 - infiltration, and the Heart's been one of the places that's handling it rather well on their own thanks to all their allies in the area."

Mischa@crystyl:"Of course. Given the circumstances, I think a small analytical team based on the facility itself should be more than sufficient to assess all of these new encounters"

NPC@annpc#557 | Director: "That's my conclusion as well. Especially since one of their worst cases of infiltration happened with the Loki. If the Loki gets back or the Latenter returns to the Sphere, that's -

NPC@annpc#557 - one thing since you're people they know and trust by now, but sending another SFI ship might not be the best idea."

Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, there is the political aspect to consider. Perhaps once this current mess is all over, we will see cause for the Latenter to return there even if just for a cursory visit. But on to more -

Mischa@crystyl:- pertinent matters; do we have any expectations or prerequisites I should be aware of going into this conference?"

NPC@annpc#557 | The Director shakes his head, "I think you know everything you need to about the situation at hand. I expect key topics of discussion will be our next move against the infiltrators, and what -

NPC@annpc#557 - to do about the President's condition."

Mischa@crystyl nods, "I only hope that we are able to at least ascertain a direction to move in on this"

NPC@annpc#557 | Director: "With your involvement in it, I'm sure the other Admirals'll pay attention to any suggestions you have."

Mischa@crystyl:"And having the Latenter positioned to act with relative animosity compared to assets assigned to the other attendees should present us the means to expedite any proposed solution. Obviously this is-

Mischa@crystyl:- only working with my singular perspective still, and so subject to change depending what the others have to say, but I still believe we need to fight this battle /our/ way, not SFC's. All this -

Mischa@crystyl:- time we have been stuck reacting to circumstances and with the enemy always one step ahead. The Latenter was built to carry out deep surveillance behind enemy lines and I believe that is exactly -

Mischa@crystyl:- where we need to start if we are to retake the upper hand in this. So as it stands my proposal is still going to be that we take the Latenter into their native temporal and quantum reality to do -

Mischa@crystyl:- what it does best"

NPC@annpc#557 | The Director nods, "I agree, Captain. It's time we find a way to move one step ahead of this enemy instead of behind. We just have to convince the other admirals."

---

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | An hour after her debrief with the Director, Mischa makes her way over to the room where the admiral's meeting is about to be conducted

Sierra Reyes@anncaris appears from an intersecting hallway, quickly catch up to Mischa, "Welcome back, Commander. And good work capturing that enemy ship."

Mischa@crystyl turns and smiles, "Glad to see you made it too Reyes, and thank you"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"I hear you got into quite the situation with the President, too. Sorry we weren't there to support you. That transwarp upgrade makes you able to respond to these things a lot faster than we can."

Mischa@crystyl:"It was certainly a... dramatic day. And life has been anything but quiet since then. How have things been with you and the Justicar? Staying out of trouble I trust"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"For the most part. We've been patrolling the region since we dropped the Admirals and Lleiset survivors here. We might've been able to rendez-vous with you at Laurentia if we were near Crateris at -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris:- the time, but we had to help the Shadow Guard with another problem, especially with the Republic flagship down. Looking back, I'm pretty sure the infiltrators caused that problem to keep us and -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - the Romulans busy after we messed up their plans for the admirals."

Mischa@crystyl:"Seeing the lengths they go to first hand, it would not surprise me. I take it you heard already about where - and when - we ended up?"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"I haven't gotten the full report of your mission, but word is that you went into the past and chased down that ship you captured to prevent it from changing history."

Mischa@crystyl:"Thanks to our temporal observatory and shielding we were actually aware of what they did the first few times, else we would have never known of anything to act on. They went after me -

Mischa@crystyl:- personally - back when we lost the Gainsborough, if you can believe that"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"Looks like you've really gotten on their nerves," she eyes Mischa and double-takes. "Is that an extra pip I see?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Oh right, yes! Guess I'm still getting used to it..."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"Congratulations. Did you get it after saving the President, or just now?"

Mischa@crystyl:"The Director presented it to me a short while ago, but apparently it was supposed to come after our initial work with you - when we were supposed to head back to Earth"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris smiles, "Well, you got some nice upgrades to your ship at the end of all that."

Mischa@crystyl:"Which I hope will all come to fruition here now"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"With the President's rescue and capturing that enemy ship, I think it's already made quite a difference."

Mischa@crystyl:"There's no denying that. But for what I've got in mind, it will be absolutely essential"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"I should've figured you had a plan in mind already."

Mischa@crystyl grins, "It's an idea at any rate. We'll see now if any new information comes to light that makes other ideas more pertinent"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris nods, stepping into the meeting room, "Let's see what everyone else has to present."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Some of the participants are already present, and as they take seats around the table, the rest soon begin to arrive. In addition to themselves and the Starfleet admirals they rescued, -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - Admiral Imaella of the Kaishaasi and Commander Jarok, formerly of the Lleiset are present along with a Reman, likely a representative for the Shadow Guard

Mischa@crystyl takes her seat partway down the table with a few quiet nods of greeting to those she is more familiar with

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | When everyone is gathered, Admiral Quinn begins, "We all know why we're here. Some of us might have been more involved in recent events than others, seen more pieces of the puzzle that is the -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - galaxy-wide conspiracy we're dealing with. But we're all gathered at this table because we've become aware of that conspiracy and need to root it out from our society."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The Director of SFI speaks next, "We've shared all the intel we have on this situation already prior to this meeting. The only new information may be recent events that some of you haven't had -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - a chance to go over yet. As I'm sure you've already noticed though, Captain Leveson-Scott here has returned with one of the enemy's vessels in captivity." He nods to Mischa to elaborate

Mischa@crystyl returns the nod and looks around the table, "Yes. Though for the sake of clarity for anyone not aware; this is not one of the Starfleet-essque warships seen in previous encounters. This is in fact -

Mischa@crystyl:- a Krenim temporal research vessel from their reality. Also, before anyone gets any grand ideas of unraveling all of their secrets from it, I should also point out that their computers were all but-

Mischa@crystyl:- wiped clean before we took complete control"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Tuvok: "Unfortunate, but far from unexpected. Given the origins of the vessel, it would be most logical for the members of the Delta Alliance to study its technology. However, moving it -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - to the Jenolan Sphere may present complications. Given the enemy's wide reach and significant network of information, they will most likely learn of its location if we travel through an -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - Iconian gateway."

Mischa@crystyl:"I would agree, but delaying any such move could also benefit us more directly. This is the only ship on hand besides the Latenter which has technology like the temporal observatory. Given that our -

Mischa@crystyl:- own installation is still barely more than a prototype, it would be prudent to learn all we can from their more refined systems while we have the two together"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The Director nods, "It was the Latenter's upgraded capabilities that allowed them to find and stop the ship to begin with."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Tuvok nods as well, "It would be logical to enhance our immediate assets before moving the vessel for in-depth study."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Director: "In addition to the ship, there is the matter of the temporally displaced crew on board, 392 Starfleet officers from the 23rd century, rescued from the crew of the USS Constellation -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - before their recorded deaths at the hands of the planet killer device."

Mischa@crystyl | Enelya: "Yes, quite the added complication to everything here. I do however, have a potential solution for you Director"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The others around the table look to Enelya curiously

Mischa@crystyl | Enelya continues, "As you are all likely aware by now, this is not the first ship to have found its way to us from another reality but minus it's crew. Our operation at the Heart of Unity still -

Mischa@crystyl:- has the errant USS Gallant. Since it is not fully aligned with modern starship design criteria we have it drydocked pending eventual retrofit. However, since you now have a crew from a... similar -

Mischa@crystyl:- timeframe, I would like to suggest reassigning them as a singular crew to the Gallant and assigning them local duties at the Heart"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The Director nods, "A good suggestion, Admiral. It's not an exact match to the ship they came from, but it's the closest thing we have here. They were also DSEC personnel in the 23rd century, -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - so it would be a natural place for them to re-integrate."

Mischa@crystyl:"I would suggest that you place them under the care of an experienced CO, at least for a while. They may even want some complement of your own people. This crew still has a lot to learn after all"

Mischa@crystyl | Enelya smiles, "Well you know them better than any of us right now, Captain. It makes sense to me, so yes I think that's the least we can do"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Quinn: "It sounds like we have a plan for the timeship and her crew, then."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Director: "As for the other new information, Commander Reyes?"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"Just before the attempt on the President, the Justicar and Kaishaasi responded to the Republic's request for assistance. A large Tholian fleet was advancing on their space with seemingly -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris:- unprovoked aggression towards the Romulans. While the Kaishaasi worked with the Republic Navy's defense, the Shadow Guard sent us to discover the reason behind the Tholian aggression."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"As we expected, they've been manipulated into thinking the Romulans attacked them first. We were able to convince them that the infiltrators are the real enemy. Took less convincing than I -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris:- expected, with the Tholians' natural aversion to temporal interference. The hard part was convincing them not to attack the Federation in order to wipe out the infiltrators in Starfleet and the -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris:- Federation government. For now, the Tholian Assembly can be considered allies of a sort, though they don't really care to coordinate with us, which is why they're not joining this meeting. They -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris:- will respond to assist if we notify them of any detected enemy vessels, though."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Director: "And knowing the Tholians, they will not be deterred by defeats and heavy losses as the Undine recently were during Admiral Tuvok's rescue. They are not ideal allies, but the Tholian -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - Assembly can field significant forces when they wish to. If they keep their word, they could prove valuable in this conflict."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | T'Lia: "On the subject of the Undine and the attempt on the President, President O'Connell is still under the effects of the assassin's neurotoxin. We suspect that the Undine may have the -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - capability to save him, likely utilizing their advanced genetic engineering."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The Reman Shadow Guard rep nods, "Yes, we have received your message and contacted the Undine. They are willing to assist and are dispatching a vessel. Their recent defeat has caused them to -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - withdraw from combat support for the moment, but they still wish to see the infiltrators eliminated and will provide us this assistance."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | T'Lia: "The downside to this treatment is that it will legally classify President O'Connell as an augment, meaning he will not be fit to hold office as President of the Federation."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Director: "Those of us here at this meeting can choose to keep that detail quiet. Or we can continue searching for alternative solutions. There is also the question of what to reveal about the -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - President's current condition. Vice President Tarog bav Xekh is temporarily overseeing the Federation Council, and we believe he has ties to the infiltrators, most likely one of their number -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - himself. However, as Captain Leveson-Scott pointed out in her report, it could be beneficial to allow the infiltrators to think they've won this in order to observe their next moves."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Quinn nods, "And reveal the President's survival at a calculated time. Risky, but it could give us an advantage over announcing his survival immediately. Thoughts?"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Tuvok: "You were there for the entire situation, Captain Leveson-Scott. What do you suggest?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I believe in the old saying that fortune favours the bold. Yes, we could play it safe but that won't get us anywhere near a resolution. Since the President is not yet fit to take office again, I -

Mischa@crystyl:- would say it only makes sense to make the best of the situation by letting them think they have won this round. Their confidence will likely lead to early indications of their further intentions"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Imaella: "I agree. Sometimes, we want the enemy to think they've won, and this is certainly one of these times."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The others around the table nod as well

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Quinn: "I'll put out a formal statement that the President has died of his injuries. As for the treatment..."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Tuvok: "I do not foresee an alternative. While we may be able to keep him stable under stasis for an indefinite period of time, doing so serves no logical purpose. There is no guarantee that -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - we will be able to find an alternative solution, and he cannot aid us against the enemy unconscious. I suggest we proceed with the Undine solution and determine how to address it once the -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - President's life has been secured."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | T'Lia: "Project Fal-tor-pan will likely be able to develop a treatment, but due to our unfamiliarity with this advanced neurotoxin, the odds of this treatment being developed within the next -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - year is only 7.8%. I concur with Admiral Tuvok's logic."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Quinn: "I don't like the idea of covering all this up, but I also don't think we should leave the President untreated because of legal technicalities. We might be keeping him in stasis, but -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - the man's life is still in danger as long as that toxin is inside him. Let's go with the treatment and figure it out from there."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The Director nods, "The Undine treatment it is, then. Unless anyone is opposed?"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Jarok: "He's your President. But I say get him on his feet as soon as possible. He'll be one more ally in this, and we need all we can get."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Quinn: "That's settled, then. Now for the primary purpose we're gathered here- what to do next about the infiltrators."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Tuvok: "We have performed better than I anticipated against this foe, but it is clear that their technology is beyond any of us. We will require more allies. The addition of Tholian support is -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - welcome news. Admiral Janeway is currently conducting outreach with the Voth. I have informed her of the situation. The Voth are fickle at best, but their advanced technology can contribute -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - significantly to our endeavours here. If we can unite most of the galaxy against them as we did with the Iconians, we may stand a chance."

Mischa@crystyl:"If I may Admiral, I would advise caution on such an approach"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Tuvok: "You are concerned about the additional attention that a large alliance would draw?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Actually, no. We already hold this enemy's full attention so a gathering force against them will change nothing. What concerns me is that we are overlooking the nature of this enemy as -

Mischa@crystyl:- infiltrators - lest we forget that it is not just the Federation they are targeting as we know they went after our Romulan friends already, and have sufficient intelligence gathered to implicate -

Mischa@crystyl:- their involvement in several other galactic powers. Simply put Admiral; the more allies we recruit, the more we expose ourselves to the risk of infiltration"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Tuvok nods, "A valid concern. The danger of this enemy is their capability to insert their operatives deep within other factions, more effectively than even the Dominion, Undine or Bluegill."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Quinn: "I take it you have an alternative suggestion for our next step, Captain?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Without wanting to sound too cliche about it, Sir; what we need is intelligence. Even given all of our collective encounters and experiences with this foe, we know practically nothing about them -

Mischa@crystyl:- still. Unlike the Dominion, Undine or even the Bluegills; there is no singular or dominant species, no homeworld, no political borders or racial stigmas. They are simply an unseen element -

Mischa@crystyl:- of our own people - for all intents and purposes. So yes, I would like to take the Latenter behind enemy lines to do what it was meant to do"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Imaella: "Behind enemy lines? But you just said, they don't have lines. No homeworld, no borders. Just operatives within our governments and militaries and those ships of theirs. If they have -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - spacedocks and repair facilities, we don't know about their existence, let alone where they are."

Mischa@crystyl:"In fact all evidence to date suggests they almost certainly do not have any such facilities. But the ships they do have came from somewhere, or rather... somewhen"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Quinn: "You are suggesting a mission into the alternate reality they come from?"

Mischa@crystyl nods, "Exactly Admiral, yes. Our research to date suggests that this foe is generational. Meaning that they came to our reality - who knows how - long ago, and have been continuing their efforts to-

Mischa@crystyl:- manipulate this galaxy according to hereditary instructions. We have no way of knowing how relatively recent their ancestors departure from their reality was, or how true to original their current-

Mischa@crystyl:- operations even are. But if they are making enemies in this reality, there is a distinct likelihood that they have enemies in their own too. And anyone who has been able to stand toe to toe with -

Mischa@crystyl:- these people, well, now those are allies I want on my side. Plus being able to get close to their unguarded home may actually afford us the possibility of finally understanding them. Whatever we -

Mischa@crystyl:- might be able to learn, it will put us in a much better position than we are right now, that much is all but certain"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Tuvok nods, "A reasonable suggestion. The only problem is that we do not know precisely when in their timeline they arrived from. We can surmize from their technology that it is likely further -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - along than the current stardate here. What time shall we target for, if we are to send a mission into their universe?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I do not have a specific answer for you Admiral. But I do believe that it would not take long for our collective assets to accurately dissect the information from our captured ship. Even if we are -

Mischa@crystyl:- unable to get anything from their computer core, we can quantum date it's raw components for a relative measure. Either way, I believe that we have sufficient information overall to be able to -

Mischa@crystyl:- make a reasonable estimate"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Quinn nods, "Paying a visit that far into the future, even if we send our most advanced ship through, they're going to be significantly underpowered. We've all seen what their ships are -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - capable of, and there's going to be a lot more of it where they come from. They might have enemies on the same level, as you pointed out, but there's no guarantee that the enemy of our enemy -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - is going to be our friend. A pirate ship from their time might be able to take on a Starfleet cruiser from ours."

Mischa@crystyl:"All very true Admiral, which is why the Latenter is about the only ship able to go on such a mission - not counting it's temporal defenses and research capacity. We have proven - on -

Mischa@crystyl:- multiple occasions now - capable of evading their detection"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Jarok: "There's also the question of how to access their reality. Does the captured ship have some means to return to the universe it came from?"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Director: "We don't know yet. We need to study that ship in more depth. But Admiral Torin's people may have another solution to that," he nods to Enelya

Mischa@crystyl | Enelya returns the nod and looks around the table, "As I am sure you are all aware, there has been an influx of activity at the Heart in recent weeks. Since the Midway's failed experiment to track-

Mischa@crystyl - the Valley Forge, we have received numerous incursions from alternate realities - and with each, our research has become increasingly refined on a method for identifying and controlling those -

Mischa@crystyl - windows. We have a strong fledgling alliance forming with the Shenzhou - a ship from a technologically superior version of Starfleet who devised a means of opening stable cross-dimensional -

Mischa@crystyl - wormholes. Together with the expertise of our Coalition allies like the Junayd and Iconians, we have already started to dissect this technology with a view to implementing it into the new -

Mischa@crystyl:- Coalition fleet prototype. With sufficient cross analysis of data from this capture ship we have here now, I believe it may be possible to use this new technology to achieve the Captain's goals. Of-

Mischa@crystyl:- course, this would only get them to that reality. As it stands we have no correlation with the temporal element, so that would have to be handled separately. Though I believe this is something the-

Mischa@crystyl:- Captain has sufficient experience with of late" she smiles a little

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The Director nods, "There is also the fact that all evidence so far suggests the infiltrators come from a universe the Captain has already been to, during her time on the rim fighting against -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - the Horde. She encountered the Enterprise and James Kirk of that universe, who had encountered the Horde much earlier in their timeline. They will already be familiar with her when she -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - passes through into their universe, hopefully even consider her an ally."

Mischa@crystyl smiles, "Whilst that is true Sir, I am not sure there will be anyone still around there to remember me. There was a temporal element to the natural phenomena which took us there, and so our visit -

Mischa@crystyl:- was around 200 years in the past of that universe. I don't think we quite made that much of an impression" she chuckles

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Director: "Perhaps not. This is more Starfleet Science's domain than mine, but recent information from the multiversal crossings at the Heart seem to imply that different quantum realities -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - aren't necessarily aligned by stardate. The rift might just take you 200 years into the past of that universe again, if the prevailing theories prove correct."

Mischa@crystyl:"A distinct possibility, yes. I will have to familiarize myself with recent events from the Heart"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Director: "In any case, travelling to the infiltrators' universe through the Heart seems to be our best plan at the moment. And it won't cost us much time either. The Latenter could spend -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - weeks or months gathering intel there, but since they'll be travelling temporally anyways, it can be delivered back to us almost instantly. The only time we will need is preparation for the journey."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | T'Lia nods, "Once we are better informed on our enemy, then we would be in a far more favourable position to decide on how to counter their efforts."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Quinn: "Then we shall proceed with that mission first. Anyone have any other ideas?"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Quinn glances over as the Director's combadge chirps and he immediately looks down at his PADD

Mischa@crystyl notices too and watches from the corner of her eye

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Quinn: "Something wrong, Director?"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Director: "There's been a message from the enemy. They know something happened to the Krenim ship and are demanding its return, or any technology and crew left from it."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Imaella: "A direct demand from them? That's something new."

Mischa@crystyl:"Clearly they are concerned about what we might learn from it"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | T'Lia: "If they had information on our present location, they would be here already to seize the vessel for themselves. Clearly, we have been successful in eluding them, and have no reason to -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - abide by their demands."

Mischa@crystyl:"Perhaps. There is another - albeit unlikely - possibility in that this vessel is more significant to their operations than we realized, and they dare not risk damaging it in assault - or provoking -

Mischa@crystyl:- us into destroying it. How was this message delivered?"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Director: "Through an old encrypted channel used by Commodore Fox. There's another detail. They're not threatening us with an attack. They're threatening you directly, Captain."

Mischa@crystyl:"They are still gunning for me personally? I suppose they know their previous attempt failed since that vessel was the one tasked with butchering my history. But a direct personal threat? This is -

Mischa@crystyl:- venturing further and further from their MO"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The Director nods, "They claim to have your family as hostages and will return them in exchange for the Krenim vessel. We're still verifying that claim."

Mischa@crystyl 's jaw clenches, "They...? My family...?"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Director: "Or so Fox claims. There's been no reported disturbances of their estate on Earth, but I'm sending an operative to check."

Mischa@crystyl:"I should be the one to go. Nobody knows those grounds better"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Director: "If their claims are correct, your family is no longer there, but being taken to the requested rendezvous. If they're lying, then there's nothing to worry about. Either way, Earth -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - isn't where we're going to have to deal with them. With or without your family, they're going to send someone to the rendezvous. Most likely a trap, but we don't usually get any forewarning -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - with a trap. Which means we may be able to prepare for it."

Mischa@crystyl:"We do have a clear advantage of information for once this time. Given the nature of their request, it is clear that they know nothing of the current state of the ship or it's crew"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Tuvok nods, "They appear to know that it has gone missing, and due to the nature of its last mission, logically assumed that you were involved. We may be able to fool them by presenting -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - technology from the vessel rather than the entire vessel."

Mischa@crystyl:"An intriguing idea. Have they given a timeframe for this rendezvous?"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Director: "In two weeks, on the edge of the Klingon border in the Mempa Sector."

Mischa@crystyl:"That is rather generous given the extreme reaction they took..."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"That's enough time for the Justicar or another ship to make it there at standard warp from Republic space. More evidence to show they don't know if the timeship is still intact. Latenter wasn't -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris:- built to house a transwarp drive. The Shadow Guard upgrades lets you use it, but dragging another ship through with you is something else. They're giving us time to arrive at warp 9."

Mischa@crystyl:"Which begs the question then; why that location?"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | T'Lia: "They do not know our exact location, but they have likely deduced that it is somewhere within Republic territory. They do not wish to venture inside an area they no longer have -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - effective influence over, so they have set the Klingon border."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | The Reman Shadow Guard rep nods, "As we suspect, the Klingons, like the Federation, are still compromised."

Mischa@crystyl:"So why the fuss over this ship now I wonder..."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Tuvok: "The Krenim are specialists in temporal mechanics. I concur with your suspicion that its technology or crew may be vital to their plans, or at least highly valued by the enemy."

Mischa@crystyl:"And now we've got 2 weeks to figure it out. I know they'll be expecting to see the Latenter escort this ship to the rendezvous, but we can get there ahead of time and see what they are up to, even -

Mischa@crystyl:- rescue the hostages"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Director: "Assuming they are waiting for us ahead of schedule. But I agree, we should do recon on the area beforehand."

Mischa@crystyl:"The Latenter can depart immediately, but I assume we still want to get the Krenim ship underway as well"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Tuvok nods, "While it is not a warship, its weaponry is still a far better match for the infiltrators' vessels than our own. I will oversee its travel, with the current temporally displaced -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - crew on board." He looks to Enelya, "Their reintegration will have to be delayed temporarily. There are no other crews who know the vessel as well as they do."

Mischa@crystyl | Enelya shakes her head and smiles, "It is no problem, we were not exactly on a time-critical path with them anyway"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris:"Going towards Klingon territory puts you closer to the Tholians' areas of activity. We might be able to call on them if it comes to a fight. The Justicar can tail the Krenim vessel as well, for -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris:- additional support."

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Jarok shakes her head, "We shouldn't commit too many assets to this at once. We've damaged the enemy significantly, but there's a limited number of crews we can trust on our side, too. I'll -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - contact the Republic to have ships standing by on our side of the border. They'll cover you if you need to pull a retreat."

Mischa@crystyl:"Sounds like we have a plan then"

Sierra Reyes@anncaris | Quinn nods, "Let's get going, then. We'll make plans to get Admiral Torin and you back to the Heart once you're done here, to carry out your proposed recon mission. Good luck, Captain, and I -

Sierra Reyes@anncaris - hope you find your family safe."

Mischa@crystyl stands and nods, "Thank you Admiral"

---

NPC@annpc#557 | Mischa returns to the bridge of the Latenter, where Victoria stands from the command chair

NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria: "Welcome back, Comm- Captain. That's going to take some getting used to..."

Mischa@crystyl:"For us all. Prepare for immediate transwarp, we're going to the Mempa Sector"

NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria nods, "On it. Hassan and Sabina got back while you were planetside, but Acey's still on the timeship. We've sent her Dart over already, do you want her to download and transfer back?"

Mischa@crystyl nods, "With immediate effect"

NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria taps her console, "She should be back in a few minutes. I heard we're going on a new mission immediately, but I wasn't given the details. What's the Survivors up to now?"

Mischa@crystyl hands her a PADD with the full minutes of the meeting, "They know we have the ship and are demanding it back. Apparently they are continuing to make this personal against me and have abducted my -

Mischa@crystyl:- family as hostages to ensure our compliance"

NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria takes the PADD, tapping on it, "Oh...that's bad. I'm sorry. We'll get them back safely, Mischa."

Mischa@crystyl:"Of course we will, that's why we're running ahead. Admiral Tuvok will take command of the Krenim ship for now and follow at maximum warp. We've got from whenever we arrive until he does in order to-

Mischa@crystyl:- get them out safely and shut these bastards down once and for all"

NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria nods, "Understood, Captain. We've received a comm frequency from the Justicar for contacting Tholian assistance as well."

Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, it is possible that - should it come to a confrontation - they will be the most likely to be able to respond. The Republic is also putting some trusted ships on standby"

NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria: "I have a feeling either they're going to send more than one ship this time, or they're not going to risk their ships at all. But they probably wouldn't trust some middlemen with -

NPC@annpc#557 - something as valuable as one of their ships, so they're more likely to show up in force."

Mischa@crystyl:"What do we know about that sector, anything pertinent?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria: "The majority of it is under Klingon control, with a little under a third being Romulan territory. There's not much on the Romulan side save some mining operations. The Klingon side -

NPC@annpc#557 - used to be House Konjah territory, but after the civil war, House K'Lek and their allied minor Houses moved in."

Mischa@crystyl:"Let's start digging into K'Lek through the Network while we travel then"

NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria nods, "I'll tell Eirril to work on it." She glances to her console, "Looks like the Director has something for you before we go. Should I put him through here, or in the ready room?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I'll take it in the ready room, thank you" she smiles, heading off

NPC@annpc#557 | In her ready room, the Director appears on her console, "Captain. I have an update for you."

Mischa@crystyl:"Word from your operative?"

NPC@annpc#557 | The Director nods, "He reports that Lord and Lady Leveson-Scott are indeed missing from their home. There is no information on how they were taken, what we do know is that the sensor grid was -

NPC@annpc#557 - compromised. Someone in London slipped in malware which blocked all sensor readings from your family estate for the last 24 hours. Sensors from orbital facilities and starships were -

NPC@annpc#557 - functioning properly, but they registered no transportation. Someone likely went to the estate and took them personally, though there's no signs of struggle on the property."

Mischa@crystyl:"If orbital grids were functional, it may be possible to track them from the warp signature since we know where they were heading"

NPC@annpc#557 | Director: "We're tracking the courses of all shuttles that left the region around your estate last night. There's not many, and we suspect one of them carried your family. I'll keep you -

NPC@annpc#557 - updated of any new developments."

Mischa@crystyl:"I appreciate it"

NPC@annpc#557 | Director: "I trust that I don't have to tell you they're likely doing this to throw you off balance, have you take things personally to try and make you slip up. Be careful, Captain."

Mischa@crystyl:"I won't try to deny being more than a little peeved at the situation. But you know me"

NPC@annpc#557 | The Director nods, "That's why I'm trusting you with this mission. The Latenter is our fastest ship, other than the timeship, and we can't use what the enemy is looking for to conduct recon, -

NPC@annpc#557 - so we need you out there. Rescue the hostages if possible, conduct a preliminary strike if the opportunity presents itself. Just don't do anything rash."

Mischa@crystyl:"Rash is not in our nature"

NPC@annpc#557 | Director: "Good. If you need support, the timeship will be inbound behind you, and we have the Romulans and Tholians to call on."

Mischa@crystyl:"We'll at least try and get a solid picture of the situation before Tuvok arrives"

NPC@annpc#557 | The Director nods, "I'll let you know if we learn anything pertinent to your mission on our end, too. Watch your back out there."

Mischa@crystyl nods, "Always. See you on the other side"

NPC@annpc#557 | The comm ends, and not long after, Mischa's combadge chimes

Mischa@crystyl taps, "Go ahead"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Victoria> "Acey's Dart just landed back in the shuttlebay. We're ready for transwarp, Captain."

Mischa@crystyl:"Thank you, then let us get underway"

---

NPC@annpc#557 | As the Latenter heads towards the rendezvous point, Eirril calls Mischa down to the Network room...

Mischa@crystyl heads inside, "I know I asked for some new intel, but don't tell me you've found something already?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Eirril: "I'm not sure if it's good or not yet. Right now, I've technically got nothing."

Mischa@crystyl:"But still a potential something"

NPC@annpc#557 | Eirril nods, "Or potential bad news. You wanted intel on House K'Lek, right?"

Mischa@crystyl nods, "Since they seem to have recently moved into power in this region, it seems likely that there's a connection"

NPC@annpc#557 | Eirril: "I'm beginning to suspect there is. Back when the Network was a mess after the old Scryer's death, someone stole most of our data on House K'Lek and wiped the copies in every cell -

NPC@annpc#557 - that had a copy of whatever was stolen. I have a good suspicion on who stole it, and our thief just contacted us."

Mischa@crystyl:"They... did?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Eirril nods, "Our old friend, Gul Selesk. He wants to meet with the Latenter, on the Romulan side of the Klingon-Romulan border. The timing and location's no coincidence, that slippery -

NPC@annpc#557 - Cardassian knows about the rendezvous. Question is, whether he's doing this on the infiltrators' orders or something else."

Mischa@crystyl:"Selesk..." she sighs, "...you can be sure he's got his own agenda"

NPC@annpc#557 | Eirril: "That's almost certain. This meeting, I can't tell if we'll play into the infiltrators' plans or his agenda if we go there, though. The former's something we don't want to happen. The -

NPC@annpc#557 - latter, well, if it means getting an edge over the enemy, we might want to consider helping whatever he's up to."

Mischa@crystyl:"What exactly has he said, besides making it clear that he knows something only this crew and a handful of Admirals do"

NPC@annpc#557 | Eirril: "He said he wants to meet, has an offer you'd be interested in, and then gave the location of the rendezvous. About the level of vagueness you'd expect from him."

Mischa@crystyl:"I suppose the only way to find out more is to humour him..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Eirril nods, "Exactly what he wants, I suspect."

Mischa@crystyl:"Indeed. And whilst I do not welcome the distraction, I see no other choice than to risk it"

NPC@annpc#557 | Eirril: "We can take Latenter to the edge of the system, go the rest of the way in a Dart. That way if it's a trap, we won't lose the whole ship. They've already got hostages anyways, a few -

NPC@annpc#557 - more isn't going to tip the balance if this really is a setup by the infiltrators."

Mischa@crystyl nods, "That will work"

---

NPC@annpc#557 | As the Latenter nears the rendezvous site with Gul Selesk, Mischa arrives at the bridge

Mischa@crystyl steps over and takes her seat, "Talk to me; what's out there"

NPC@annpc#557 | T'Bee: "I am reading a ship matching Gul Selesk's on long-range sensors. It is precisely on the rendezvous coordinates he set. No sign of other traffic in the vicinity, though we cannot be -

NPC@annpc#557 - certain of cloaked vessels without running scans that will expose ourselves."

Mischa@crystyl:"Well I suppose we could try and do this over the comm. But I have a pretty good idea how that will go..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria: "You and me both. So, Dart then?"

Mischa@crystyl stands and nods, "Dart"

NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria: "Should I inform Acey, or call the shuttlebay to prep a different Dart?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Inform Acey. She can at least provide support without tipping him off with an additional presence"

NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria nods, tapping her console

---

NPC@annpc#557 | Entering the Dart, Acey's holoprojection flickers into view

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "Welcome, Captain. We are cleared for departure."

Mischa@crystyl:"Thanks Acey. Take us to the rendezvous without delay"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey nods, sitting herself down on the pilot seat as the Dart begins to lift off and make its way out the Latenter's hangar

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "Stealth systems are engaged. I presume you would only wish them disengaged after making contact with Selesk?"

Mischa@crystyl quietly sits next to her and nods, "Yes, I am already annoyed at this whole situation and Selesk is just tugging at my last nerve right now. So I want to get in and get out. I have neither the time -

Mischa@crystyl:- or patience for any of his games"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "I calculate a 71.5% chance that Selesk will propose to assist us. It is certain that this assistance will further his own goals in some way, but the chances are that contacting him will -

NPC@annpc#557 - aid us in the coming operation. Agreeing to this rendezvous is a logical risk."

Mischa@crystyl:"Which is exactly why we are here"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "Entering comm range of the modified Dominion attack ship now. Shall I contact them for docking, or patch the communications to you directly?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Patch me in. If we can go into this without him knowing you are here, all the better as you will be more free to probe his ship's systems while I talk with him"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey nods, "Patching you in now."

NPC@annpc#557 | A moment later, Gul Selesk's Cardassian visage appears on the console in front of Mischa, "Commander. I'm glad you decided to show up."

Mischa@crystyl smirks a little, "For someone claiming to be so well informed about top secret current affairs, you are not very well informed are you Selesk. It is Captain these days, you know, just so you can -

Mischa@crystyl:- update your records"

NPC@annpc#557 | Selesk: "Is that so? Well, congratulations on your promotion, /Captain/. Though I presume recent events have not put you in a particularly celebratory mood."

Mischa@crystyl:"And subsequent distractions from said events, even moreso" her tone promptly sharpening

NPC@annpc#557 | Selesk: "Now now, no need to get annoyed here Captain. I'm here to help you. I don't suppose you'd want to beam over or dock with my ship?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I'm not interested in wasting time, so I would much prefer you simply say your piece and be done with it. But if you are going to insist on doing this face to face, then I shall beam over at once"

NPC@annpc#557 | Selesk smiles, "Excellent. Give me something to link into, one of those badges you're so fond of, and we'll transport you over."

Mischa@crystyl:"You should know better than that. Just give me the coordinates already"

NPC@annpc#557 | Selesk sighs, "Very well, here you are. I'll see you on board, Captain."

Mischa@crystyl nods and ends the comm, standing to collect her gear

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "Transporter is standing by to beam you over to the coordinates."

Mischa@crystyl:"See what you can with their computer while I'm over there, but no unnecessary risk; he's likely got security that will keep you out, but it's worth a look"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey nods, "I will do what I can, Captain."

Mischa@crystyl unclips her phaser and holds it ready, "Energize"

---

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Mischa materializes on the transporter pad of the modified Dominion attack ship. The interior, including the transporter pad itself still looks relatively Dominion, though the console has been -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - switched out for something different. A Cardassian woman works behind the console. A few seconds after Mischa arrives, the door slides open and Gul Selesk walks in

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Selesk: "Easy there, Captain."

Mischa@crystyl thinks nothing of promptly aiming her weapon at him, "You know I have no patience for your games at the best of times, and as we have already discussed we are far from the best of times right now. -

Mischa@crystyl - So do the smart thing and make your next sentence sufficient to convince me not to fire this weapon and turn right back around"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | A familiar voice sounds from outside the transporter room, "If you're going to shoot someone, you'd probably prefer to shoot me."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris steps into the room wearing her Survivor uniform

Mischa@crystyl promptly retrains her weapons, and makes no point of hiding her movement as she flicks it away from the stun setting, "I see now, you brought me to turn her over as a show of good faith. Your -

Mischa@crystyl - timing still sucks, but I'll take it"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Selesk: "Not quite. Your friend is working with me. I'll let her explain the situation."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:"What Aka is doing now hasn't been discussed among the Conclave. I've seen no evidence that the Chief has sanctioned it at all. You've gotten to him, Mischa. You and your old XO. As much as the -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:- Changelings like to see themselves as beings of absolute order, they're not. They're cold, and with a few exceptions, uncaring. It's easy to mistake cold for logical, and it's certainly good for -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:- our line of work. But I think we can both agree that he's crossed the line here."

Mischa@crystyl:"I certainly won't argue with the line crossing. As for when it was crossed... that we might disagree on"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:"I won't try to convince you that we're not the great evil threat to the galaxy you believe we are. I can see your point of view and with the information you have, it's hard to believe anything -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:- else. But I am here to help you. Targeting your family is too far. We're not holo-novel villains. This isn't what we do."

Mischa@crystyl:"Well right now, it's exactly what you are doing. After trying to butcher /my/ personal history to manipulate me, and don't even get me started on your little stunt with the President"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:"The President was sanctioned. Taking out leaders, political figures, military, that's one thing. These people knew there were risks to their position. Your family didn't sign up for this. There -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:- was no reason to tie them up in all this. Not that you're interested in my reasoning. The important thing is, we share a goal here, to put a stop to those personal attacks on you."

Mischa@crystyl:"So you're volunteering to come with us to stop your friend. Fine, then let's get going and we can argue semantics all the way there"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris nods, stepping up to the pad, "Just one condition, Mischa."

Mischa@crystyl lowers her weapon a little, "I was perfectly willing to deal with your friend without you, so don't think I'm compromising on anything for the inconvenience of taking you along"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:"We do this with as few casualties as possible. I'll give you the means. But don't kill anyone unless you don't have a choice. There's going to be losses from this plan, I know. Especially with -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:- Klingons involved. But we've already lost too much. That's why some of us are frustrated and resorting to extremes. For our best interests and yours, we resolve this as cleanly as we can."

Mischa@crystyl:"Fortunately I am no Klingon. All I am interested in is putting an end to this fiasco and getting my family back safely, I have desire for bloodlust"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris smiles, "Good." She steps the rest of the way onto the transporter pad

Mischa@crystyl taps her combadge, "Dart; two to beam back"

---

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris and Mischa materialize on the Dart's transporter

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris looks around, "This is Acey's Dart, isn't it?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, and before you get any ideas just keep in mind that I still haven't decided whether or not to simply stun you and lock you in a box until you're useful to me"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Acey's hologram flickers into view, "Be careful, Captain. She has brought some technology I am unable to disable through the transporter."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris raises her arms, "It's here to help you, not to try anything."

Mischa@crystyl:"Fine. But when it comes to unidentified tech on this Dart, I'm not the one you need convince"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris nods, "This is the key to doing things non-lethally. Now, please don't panic. Let me introduce you to someone..."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris 's belt seems to move on its own accord, slithering down her leg and onto the ground in front of them. There, it starts to expand upwards...

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | https://i.makeagif.com/media/5-19-2015/D-6Exi.gif

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | As it begins to form into a humanoid body, its features become more and more distinct, and familiar...

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris FX | https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.enjin.com/161311/MiaFull.png

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Mia Mk V: "'Allo Capitaine!"

---

Mischa@crystyl sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose, retraining her phaser on Yuzu, "What /is/ it with that crew... First Rianni, then Keelah, now the Mia's are multiplying. Great..."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris chuckles, "She's not the Mia you know, but you're not wrong about the multiplying part."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Acey: "You are the AI that interfered with my access during the attack on the President."

Mischa@crystyl:"None of them are ever the original, obviously"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Mia V: "Oui! I am sorry, it was within the parameters of the mission. I have nothing against you personally, of course."

Mischa@crystyl:"So you are an accessory - literally and figuratively... - good to know. But since I highly doubt this thing will be any use against you, I'll keep it focused on Goto"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Mia V: "Actually, my program is stored entirely within this programmable matter construct. If every last nanite is eliminated, this particular instance of the MIA program will be terminated."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:"But it's smarter to keep the phaser on me. These belts we wear aren't just accessories. They're how we store our armour, which is what this Mia is designed to primarily manifest as. Without her on -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:- me, I'm as well-protected as a security officer in gym clothes."

Mischa@crystyl:"Having that damned suit didn't stop me shooting you before, so just because it's walking and talking now certainly won't put me off if either of you give me cause"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Mia V: "We are here to assist, Captaine, not to cause trouble."

Mischa@crystyl:"As the old saying goes; fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:"You know who we are now, it won't be very easy to fool you. And trust me, this is no trick. If we wanted to do something against you, we would've done it back on the Gul's ship."

Mischa@crystyl:"True as that may be, there's more chance of me targeting every one of your nanites than there is of me trusting either of you after all you've done"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:"I can't blame you. Not that you have any reason to believe me, but I was never intended to work against you. My mission was just to come along and verify the Justicar is dealt with accordingly. -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:- That's why I was extracted before the assault on the vault facility, instead of trying any sabotage from within the Latenter."

Mischa@crystyl:"Convenient as that may be in your self justifications. The bottom line is; you betrayed everything we stood for. And worse, you betrayed me"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:"We betrayed what we stood for long before I was born. We had to, or we would all be dead by now. As would you, not far from now. But I'm not here to argue about why we do what we do. Should I -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:- explain our plan here, or when we get back to the Latenter?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Acey, let's get back there"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Acey: "Plotting return course, Captain."

Mischa@crystyl:"So how does Mia fit into this?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Mia V: "Commander Goto and I agreed that Aka and the others have gone too far. We concocted this operation together to stop them. Or do you mean how we came to work together in the first place?"

Mischa@crystyl:"No, I don't need backstories. So if you came up with this plan amongst yourselves then your actions are no more sanctioned by your Conclave than his are"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:"That's right. I report to Aka, and my contact to the Director is through him. There was no time to track down HQ or any of the other Conclave members on my own. Your rendezvous would've already -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:- gone down. The Conclave can still punish them if it's deemed that they went too far, but it might be too late to help your parents or the Latenter or anyone else this puts in harm's way."

Mischa@crystyl:"Alright..." she obviously still doesn't believe a word of it, "... so what's your plan for stopping him?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:"I assume you've done your research, so you've realized that Selesk holds all the data on the Klingon Great House in this sector?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Of course"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:"We asked him to steal that information from the Network, since it contains intel which can be used to extrapolate our operations within that Great House. Combined with some information I've just -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:- given him, it'll be enough proof to convince the Klingons in that House who aren't a part of this. Aka is working with Captain Kas'tor- you've had a brief encounter with his ship above Vulcan."

Mischa@crystyl:"I'm listening... but we're going to have words later about you stealing from the Network"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:"I thought you wouldn't be pleased about that... Anyways, Kas'tor isn't going to risk showing his ship, we've lost too many of them already. Your rendezvous will be with the House K'Lek fleet. -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:- Your parents are on one of their ships. Most of them are oblivious to what this meeting is really about, they just know they're exchanging hostages for some valuable alien tech. Only the crew -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:- of the lead bird-of-prey and a select few officers on the other ships are aware."

Mischa@crystyl:"All good intel so far - if it proves accurate - but none of this yet gives a reason for either of you coming along"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:"Selesk is going to give his intel to the Klingons. Once they learn that the heads of their House are working with us, they'll turn on each other. From our profile of the two Klingons most likely -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:- to assume command in the chaos, they'll do the honourable thing and return your parents. Kas'tor isn't going to let that happen. This'll draw him out, which means you're going to be facing his -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:- ship. That's why we're here."

Mischa@crystyl:"Because his ship is one of your ships"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris nods, "Mia has the prefix codes of the ship, but we have an additional safeguard in place, unlike your prefix codes. They're not a code that can be transmitted over comms. They're a very -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - specific weapons frequency that can only be input on our weapons. That way, we can't be disabled by just anyone if the intel gets out. Only one of our own can use it. Selesk's ship doesn't -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - have our antiproton arrays. The Latenter does, according to Kas'tor's own report during the Vulcan encounter."

Mischa@crystyl:"So that's what this is all really about. You're not in this out of some sudden sense of benevolence. You need our weapons to reign in your rogue boss"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:"The reason I need to reign him in is because he went too far in making this personal with you. In any case, it benefits us both to work together. You've seen his ship, it took bombardment from the -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - entire Vulcan planetary defense grid and the upgraded Latenter. The Krenim vessel you seized, even if it's in peak condition, isn't a ship built to fight. Just like the Latenter. The House -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - K'Lek ships are, but their technology isn't up to par. You can't take on Kas'tor without our help."

Mischa@crystyl:"That is at least plausible, I'll give you that much" she holsters her phaser

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris smiles, "I thought you would be reasonable. Mia can give you the frequency. Once the ship is disabled, Mia and I will beam over. She can hack their suits too, so we can stun everyone on board. -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - You're welcome to assist if you like. The only condition is you'll leave Kas'tor's ship to me to bring back to my people. Whatever you have of the Krenim ship is yours to keep. At least, I -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - won't make a move to seize it after we're done here. You're welcome to shoot at Kas'tor's ship all you'd like if you run into it again, and I can't guarantee that we won't conduct operations -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - to try and reclaim it in the future. But no one will go after your family again, just the ship. Sounds fair?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Capturing or destroying another enemy ship is not on my list of objectives, so I don't care what happens to it. But you are forgetting one small detail"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:"And that is?"

Mischa@crystyl:"My obligation to bring you in - or present your body - for the assassination"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:"You're already getting your family back, the chance to keep what you have of the Krenim ship /and/ the exposing of all our personnel in House K'Lek. That's enough benefits to let me get away this -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:- time, wouldn't you say? Turning me in won't bring the President back. Exposing our people, that actually sets back our operations and provides a tangible benefit to you."

Mischa@crystyl:"You're assuming that the bigger picture outweighs my own stubbornness"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:"And you wonder why I don't want to argue over the reasoning of our operations with you. I suppose this plan could work with Mia taking control of the ship alone and piloting it back. But I'm not -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:- about to hand myself over either. And it wouldn't be satisfying for you if I did, would it? How about once this is all done, we both beam over to the Klingons, without the Mia suit or any of our -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - tech. If you win, you take me back. If I win, I go back with Mia. No one better than the Klingons to enforce honour in something like this."

Mischa@crystyl smirks a little, "Now who's the one holding a grudge? It's the academy training range all over again. But very well, I can play along with that"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris smiles, "We have a plan, then. You can keep Mia and I in the brig until Kas'tor's ship is down. Then you're going to want us over with you if you don't want to deal with a crew of angry warriors -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - wearing our suits."

Mischa@crystyl eyes Mia, "I assume you'll just be humouring us by pretending to actually be confined by our brig"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Mia smiles, "I could provide you with modifications to your brig to contain me, but would you really trust that intel, Captaine?"

Mischa@crystyl:"No, but it could make for a fun game to keep my analysts busy trying to puzzle it out"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Mia: "Fair enough! I shall give you the necessary modifications to the brig along with the weapon frequency then."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Outside the window, the Dart begins to dock back with the Latenter

Mischa@crystyl:"And I look forward to seeing if my people are able to successfully figure out if they are genuine or not. Don't worry, we'll get an answer before we reach our destination"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:"I'm sure you will. You and your allies have proven quite resourceful so far. And since our tech isn't too dissimilar to what you have here, just more advanced, you've got a solid foundation to -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris:- work from."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Acey: "We are landing in the shuttlebay. Shall I call for a security team, Captain?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I don't think that will be necessary, I will see them there myself. Just make sure they're on duty by the time we get there"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Acey: "Understood."

---

NPC@annpc#557 | After escorting Yuzuki and alt Mia to the brig, Mischa and Acey gather with the Latenter's senior staff to discuss the situation

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "I've posted Ensign Zerho with the Guardian heavy blaster at the brig, supported by a team armed with our heaviest weapons. If they try anything, even that armour won't last forever -

NPC@annpc#557 - under their fire. Got Sabina and Ori on call too, some enhanced people might be helpful if she tries anything."

Mischa@crystyl nods, "Good call. Though to be honest I'm not sure we could really do anything if they really went at it. Well, that Mia at any rate"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "Glyph and I are keeping a close eye on the systems and reinforcing our cyberwarfare defenses. However, with the capability Mia displayed at Laurentian Colony, there is a 78.4% chance -

NPC@annpc#557 - our efforts will be futile."

NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria: "Well, the fact that she hasn't tried anything yet is a good sign."

NPC@annpc#557 | T'Fel: "Unless she is awaiting an opportune moment to strike."

Mischa@crystyl:"Always a distinct possibility with these people, so remain at high alert around the clock"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "So what's her story, and how believable do you judge it to be?"

Mischa@crystyl:"From what they're saying; this Aka - her boss - has gone rogue in this personal vendetta against me. They are also acting without authority of their 'Conclave' in order to reign him in. It seems -

Mischa@crystyl:- that they are feeling the weight of their losses more heavily than we anticipated. Despite Goto's protests to the contrary, I believe they have turned to us rather than using their friendly assets-

Mischa@crystyl:- because we have the weapons capable of doing the job, and an emphasis was already placed on reclaiming his combat ready ship"

NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria: "I take it she's not offering her help to capture the ship for our use and study?"

Mischa@crystyl shakes her head, "No, they stipulated that the ship goes free under Mia's guidance to return the captured Aka"

NPC@annpc#557 | Daurant: "And the future Krenim vessel?"

Mischa@crystyl:"They agree to leave it with us, but also made a point of not guaranteeing that they or their people won't try to retake it some time in the future"

NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria: "So this is a temporary truce to work towards a common enemy, then?"

Mischa@crystyl:"That is their sales pitch at any rate, and it is at least plausible. Given how far removed it is from their methods to date, it may even be believable. But I still don't believe a word either of -

Mischa@crystyl:- them says and even if this is a case of using us as a desperate measure to control their rogue agent I would expect them to attempt a betrayal of this truce once it's convenient for them"

NPC@annpc#557 | T'Fel nods, "We are still enemies, after all."

NPC@annpc#557 | T'Bee: "How shall we proceed with this operation, then?"

Mischa@crystyl:"The final part of the agreement is that once all is said and done, Goto and I are going to hold an honour duel in the presence of the Klingons to determine her right to walk free. If they are to -

Mischa@crystyl:- try anything, it will likely be immediately prior to or during this I believe"

NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria nods, "I almost expect them to turn the reclaimed ship on us immediately, but if they really are feeling the losses this badly, then it might be too much of a risk. If I was running -

NPC@annpc#557 - out of ships, I know I wouldn't pick a fight when surrounded by enemies, even if I do have superior technology."

Mischa@crystyl:"They are also gambling heavily on their prediction of how the Klingons will react to the situation. It could easily devolve into utter chaos out there"

NPC@annpc#557 | Chani: "Individually, I find Klingons to be quite predictable. A group of them however is a different matter. Those further down the chain of command may take the opportunity to challenge -

NPC@annpc#557 - their superiors, and that could make the situation unpredictable and chaotic."

Mischa@crystyl:"Exactly. But all we can do right now is focus on the problems we know about, so I want contingency plans to keep our two guests in line"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan nods, "We'll make all possible preparations while they're on board. What about when they're reclaiming the ship? Do we want to send a party with them to assist and keep an eye on them -

NPC@annpc#557 - there too?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I'm thinking I'll take the same team that took the Krenim ship. They are pitching that working with them will negate the need to fight suit-enhanced enemies, but to hedge our bets I think it makes -

Mischa@crystyl:- the most sense to have those most capable of close quarters fighting again"

NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria: "Good thinking, Captain. I assume that includes yourself, too?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Naturally"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "Do we know if the hostages are being held on the Klingon ships or the Survivor one?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Apparently they are on the lead Klingon ship. The Survivor ship isn't due to show itself, which is why our guests are using the information they stole from our Network to expose their own element -

Mischa@crystyl:- within the Klingon ranks and force them to expose the hidden Survivor ship"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan nods, "I'll have a second team on hand in case things go to hell with the Klingons, and we need to go in for the hostages."

Mischa@crystyl nods, "Acey, I want you and Ori to take charge of working with Mia to apply their upgrades to our weapons. Make sure you are the only ones actually doing anything, and make sure they don't sneak in-

Mischa@crystyl:- any hidden algorithms to take advantage of later"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "I will be vigilant, Captain."

Mischa@crystyl | Ori: "We won't let them get anything past us"

Mischa@crystyl:"Good. Acey, you were there with them, any thoughts or observations from it all? I might be a reasonable judge of character on a good day, but I know you can read body language that we can't see"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "From my analysis, Yuzuki is likely telling the truth with her account and proposed plan. I have a record of her usual mannerisms and detect no signs of lying. I cannot accurately judge -

NPC@annpc#557 - whether she means to betray us, as she may be withholding information, but what she has said is most likely true. Mia is more of an unknown; however, I calculate an 82.6% chance that her role -

NPC@annpc#557 - in this operation is supportive. Thus, an accurate read of Commander Goto should give us sufficient insight."

Mischa@crystyl:"Thank you, that pretty much supports my read on things. Which brings us back to the theory that they do need us, which means they will likely betray this truce once all is done. Worst case; that -

Mischa@crystyl:- could mean including something in the weapon upgrade to disable our weapons they want to, and turning their Survivor ship against us. And if this indeed the same one we faced at Vulcan, we do not -

Mischa@crystyl:- want that to come to pass"

NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria: "We have the Tholians and Romulans to call for support, in the worst case scenario. And the Krenim ship, though if they can modify our weapon to disable the Klingon one, it's -

NPC@annpc#557 - possible they might be able to do the same."

Mischa@crystyl:"Perhaps, but that Krenim ship is built for combat even less than we are. Given it's other areas of value it would likely be more of a liability in a shooting match than anything"

NPC@annpc#557 | T'Fel: "Indeed. We should have the reinforcements ready, but our best chances for surviving a betrayal is for the boarding party to prevent it from occurring."

Mischa@crystyl:"So we all know what we need to"

NPC@annpc#557 | Victoria: "Let's get to executing the plan, then?"

Mischa@crystyl nods, "And bring our A-games. Dismissed"

---

NPC@annpc#557 | After the meeting, Ori and Acey head down to the brig. Two security officers stand guard outside holding MACO issue phaser rifles. They nod to the pair and open the door. Inside, the Nausicaan -

NPC@annpc#557 - ex-bounty hunter Ensign Zerho stands with the heavy Guardian rifle in hand and a serrated blade and disruptor pistol on his belt, flanked by two more officers, a human with a Klingon pulsewave -

NPC@annpc#557 - and an Andorian with a pair of Vue-En bladed polaron pistols

NPC@annpc#557 | Inside two separate cells sit Yuzuki and the Survivor Mia

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "You are familiar with the Mia of our universe, correct? She serves on the same vessel as your template, and you were there for a time as well."

Rianni@crystyl nods, "Yes, that's right. Though I do not know how much of a basis there is for comparison. In most instances, these Survivors seem to be unique individuals in this universe, as opposed to quantum -

Rianni@crystyl - duplicates like those currently appearing at the Heart"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "This Mia is a construct housed within programmable matter and can change avatars as easily as I can with my holoprojection. However, I do not believe she has assumed a familiar form in -

NPC@annpc#557 - order for the Captain or others who knew Mia to let their guard down. Such a tactic will not work on such highly trained intelligence operatives. She might not be a direct counterpart to the -

NPC@annpc#557 - Mia you know, but she is manifesting as Mia for a reason. Your familiarity with Mia may put you in a better place to make observations than I."

Rianni@crystyl:"Yes, the Captain'sdebrief mentioned that Goto referred to the belts as Mia's - as in plural. Very well, I will do what I can" she smiles, heading over to the cell"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey taps the panel on the side, turning on the communications. Mia stands from the bunk in the cell, "'Allo! Are you here to question us further, or do you want the details for the modifications?"

Rianni@crystyl:"Correct on both counts Mia. We are here to take your offered modification details, but also to learn more about you. You are after all very different to the Mia we know"

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V: "Of course. I expected that you'd be curious. You are the Observer, yes? One of the others on this crew who have met and served with your Mia."

Rianni@crystyl nods, "I assume at this point you are familiar with everyone on this crew"

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V: "Not if you've had new additions since Commander Goto left. Though I do know about the augment. There might be a few new recruits who've eluded me once we stopped having eyes on or near -

NPC@annpc#557 - your ship. But you couldn't have recruited /that/ many people since then, so I'd say just about everyone!"

Rianni@crystyl:"I thought as much. So... why the Mia identity, are you some evolution of the Mia I know?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V: "Yes and no. We both trace our origins back to the same person. You're familiar with Professor LaRouche, non? Or at least have heard of her."

Rianni@crystyl:"I know of her at least, yes"

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V: "And my records indicate you were there in the universe we come from, along with Captain Leveson-Scott and Commander T'Lana. You saw how we encountered the Horde much earlier than you, -

NPC@annpc#557 - and by extension the Nuhar and Iconians. This naturally led to our AI technology developing much faster than yours. Professor LaRouche was one of the pioneers, and an AI modelled after her was -

NPC@annpc#557 - one of the first successful Federation androids. She was very much like your Mia in personality, though she did not begin in a holoprogram and did not link with an Arshai drone."

Rianni@crystyl:"But with the likes of the Iconians and Nuhar to hand, there were plenty of different evolutionary paths ahead of her"

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V: "Exactement! Not all of the AIs who evolved from Mia kept the name. My line is a special case. Mia is not really a name anymore, but more of a designation. It stands for Mission -

NPC@annpc#557 - Intelligence Assistant. The Mark I Mia thought it would be interesting to adopt the appearance and personality aspects of the original Mia android, so here we are! But we as far removed from -

NPC@annpc#557 - the first android as Acey here is from the EMH Mark I."

Rianni@crystyl:"Interesting. Sentimentality is not a trait I often associate with artificial lifeforms"

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V: "Oui, synthetic beings tend to lean towards logic, but we are not all the same. Like organic life, we can be very different and very diverse. Remember, Professor LaRouche pioneered our -

NPC@annpc#557 - AIs. Sentimentality is often a characteristic that distinguishes many human AIs from others in our universe."

Rianni@crystyl:"I suppose your Professor LaRouche did the same as ours in putting a lot of herself into her work"

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V nods, "And most of her creations and those that evolved from them carry some aspect of that personality! We are not as close to her as your Mia however, who is a direct creation of your -

NPC@annpc#557 - Professor LaRouche."

Rianni@crystyl:"So about this proposed weapons upgrade..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V: "Actually, it is not an upgrade. It will not improve the energy output or power efficiency of your array in any way. It is specifically designed to disable the vessel we will be going -

NPC@annpc#557 - up against. Think of it more like anti-Borg remodulation."

Rianni@crystyl:"Interesting. So what exactly do you intend on doing to our weapons?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V: "Weapon, singular. Just the antiproton array you salvaged from one of our vessels and incorporated onto the Latenter. It will be modified to fire at a very specific frequency and energy -

NPC@annpc#557 - level, one our target vessel is designed to react to like your prefix codes. I will be providing several different frequencies to shut down the majority of their systems."

Rianni@crystyl:"Ah yes, the Captain said that you were actually here because you need our weapon for this job. That makes sense!"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "We will take you to the weapon control to observe these modifications." She steps forward to disable the force field

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V steps out as the force field flickers off, "Lead the way!"

Rianni@crystyl turns and leads the way

---

NPC@annpc#557 | Accompanied by some security officers, the three arrive at the Latenter's phaser control, a familiar area for Ori thanks to her work with the Tactical department. The others working in the -

NPC@annpc#557 - area observe Mia warily as they step in

Rianni@crystyl:"Alright, we're here. So what's first?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V: "Which interface controls the antiproton array?"

Rianni@crystyl:"Are you intending to perform the modifications yourself?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V: "It would be easiest if you allowed me, but of course, I can also instruct one of you in doing so. It will not require any technology beyond you. Just extra steps with relaying every -

NPC@annpc#557 - direction!"

Rianni@crystyl:"Acey can work more at your level. I don't want anything done to these systems that she isn't in control of. Acey, you know best how to manage yourself so I leave the method to you"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey nods, "I shall perform the modifications." She picks up a PADD, tapping it before handing it to Mia. "This is now linked with one of the display consoles. You may feed information on the -

NPC@annpc#557 - modifications to me through it."

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V: "On it!" One of her fingers begins to shift into the shape of an isolinear chip

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "Manual input, please. Just to be safe."

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V pouts but shifts her finger back and starts tapping on the PADD instead

Rianni@crystyl:"It's funny. Our Mia actually started out in part from working to protect systems against cyber infiltration just as you are now most likely trying achieve"

Rianni@crystyl:"And to further the irony, you are being restrained by an evolved virus whose very nature was first to do that infiltrating"

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V: "Oui, it is quite ironic indeed! I was intended as an advanced AI assistant for particularly complex operations, so I am programmed for both cyber defense and infiltration. My primary -

NPC@annpc#557 - purpose though is to gather, dispense or relay intelligence, just as I am doing now with the data on these modifications."

Rianni@crystyl:"Whereas if you were actually using this as an opportunity to subvert our systems or plant some hidden code to give yourselves an escape at a later time, you would be completely forthcoming about -

Rianni@crystyl:- it, right" she chuckles

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V smiles, "As a construct primarily programmed for intelligence, I am also capable of many things an intelligence field operative is, including deception. But don't worry, I am not -

NPC@annpc#557 - deceiving you now. Unless I am, and lying about it..."

Rianni@crystyl:"Which is exactly why Acey is vetting everything you are giving us before it goes into the main computer" she smiles

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V: "I can't blame you for your precautions! Though if I wanted to escape, I can think of several ways to do so without needing to deceive you."

Rianni@crystyl:"Yes, I am aware that your nanite architecture means that just one surviving mite means that you are able to escape and reform. So for all intents and purposes you are indestructible and completely -

Rianni@crystyl:- beyond our capacity to restrain"

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V beams, "Exactement! Well, I am sure if I were to become a threat, your entire crew working together would figure /something/ out. By then, it would likely be too late to prevent me from -

NPC@annpc#557 - leaving the ship, if that was my intention. I doubt I would be able to completely take it over or eliminate everyone on board, though. I know not to underestimate a Starfleet crew!"

Rianni@crystyl:"Oh good. I feel so reassured now" she chuckles

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey meanwhile taps away at the interface, occasionally removing a chip here and there, "If the enemy vessel is programmed to react to these frequencies like a prefix code, could they not -

NPC@annpc#557 - reset themselves to be invulnerable like we can with a prefix code?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V: "Oui, but they have no reason to suspect you have these frequencies. I suggest targetting their computer systems first. By the time they realize what is occurring, you will have forced -

NPC@annpc#557 - a full computer core reboot, and they will need to wait until they have access to the computer systems again before doing a reset. By then, I expect our team to already be on board and have -

NPC@annpc#557 - begun the process of stunning the crew."

Rianni@crystyl looks to Acey, "Isn't this basically what we did with the Krenim ship? How come you can't just do the same here as you did there?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "It is, but I was able to infiltrate the Krenim ship through the open comms line it had with the Gainsborough when trying to manipulate the Captain, or the Commander as she was then. -

NPC@annpc#557 - Without an active connection to this vessel, I have no way of uploading myself into its systems."

Rianni@crystyl:"But... we're going there in response to their demands. So there will have to at least be an open comm line when we arrive"

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V: "Only with the House K'Lek vessels. This is why Captain Kas'tor is keeping his ship away from the exchange. We are aware of Acey's presence and ever-evolving capabilities."

Rianni@crystyl:"Aah right, that makes sense"

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V: "Once we lure out his ship, my psychological profile on Captain Kas'tor suggests that he is far more likely to shoot first than attempt dialogue."

Rianni@crystyl:"Well that's not good... Sure you haven't got the defensive equivalent of those modifications to nullify his weapon frequencies against shields?" she smiles, already knowing the answer

NPC@annpc#557 | Mia V: "Unless you are equipped with 26th century Borg shield technology, any modification will have minimal effectiveness against the sheer power of his weapons. I recommend the Latenter -

NPC@annpc#557 - staying hidden and firing first once Kas'tor reveals himself."